Episode 185: The One Trait That Can Quickly Kill Your Business Artwork

Therapy For Your Money

Welcome to Therapy for your Money, a podcast about all things money and finance for private practice owners! If you are ready to feel confident and in-control of your financial life, then you are in the right spot. Therapy for our Money is hosted by Julie Herres, the CEO and Founder of GreenOak Accounting. She and her firm specialize in working with private practice owners across the United States, and have assisted hundreds of private practices with increasing their financial stability and profitability. She is on a mission to share her best practices she's learned along the way through her successful career as an accountant, discusses financial topics with a wide variety of guests, and help her listeners make data driven decisions to help their businesses.

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Therapy For Your Money

Episode 185: The One Trait That Can Quickly Kill Your Business

September 26, 2025 • Julie Herres • Season 6 • Episode 185

You might think the biggest threats to your private practice are burnout, cash flow issues, or poor marketing…
But what if the real danger is something far sneakier?

In this episode, I’m breaking down the hidden cost of people-pleasing—and why it can quietly derail your business if you’re not careful.

Whether you’ve ever said yes to a raise you couldn’t afford or felt guilty enforcing your cancellation policy, this one’s for you. I’ll walk you through real examples of how people-pleasing shows up in private practice and what to do instead (without becoming a cold-hearted boss!).

🔥 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:00] Why being “too nice” can backfire: Let’s talk about the real job of the business owner (hint: it’s not to make everyone happy).
[01:40] The most dangerous trait in business: This one surprised me, too. I share my personal struggle with people-pleasing—and how it nearly cost me as a leader.
[03:00] What people-pleasing looks like in real life: Saying yes to raises you can’t afford? Allowing multiple team members to take the same PTO? These common examples could be quietly hurting your bottom line.
[05:00] The unintended cost of “small” perks: Pizza parties, expensive CEUs, and endless snack requests... they add up more than you think.
[06:15] Boundary creep: When your kindness becomes chaos: Taking late clients. Waiving cancellation fees. Moving your admin block. Let’s talk about where boundaries really matter.
[07:45] Your #1 job as a business owner: Spoiler: It’s ensuring the survival of your practice. And that job is in service to everyone—your team, your clients, and you.
[08:30] You don’t owe everyone a “yes”: You can say no with kindness and clarity. Here’s how to build mutual respect while holding firm to what’s best for the business.
[10:00] The hard parts of leadership (and why it’s okay to opt out): Not everyone wants to lead a team—and that’s okay. If managing people drains you, you’re not alone.
[12:00] What strong leadership really looks like: Clarity, consistency, and confident decision-making are what your practice needs most. You can be kind and firm.
[13:30] Thinking about stepping back from group practice?: If you’re questioning whether business ownership is still the right fit, you’re not failing. It may just be time for a different season—and I share why that’s a powerful decision too.

🎧 Listen now to get clarity on what your practice really needs from you—especially if you’re juggling team needs, money decisions, and your own leadership growth.

Links and Resources

Money for Therapists Practice Startup - https://www.greenoakaccounting.com/startup

GreenOak Accounting - www.GreenOakAccounting.com

Therapy For Your Money Podcast - www.TherapyForYourMoney.com

Profit First for Therapists - www.ProfitFirstForTherapists.com

Profit First Academy - www.ProfitFirstForTherapists.com/Academy

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